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Alzheimer's disease is a devastating, fatal, neurological disorder with no known cause and no cure. Alzheimer's
destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior. As many as 5.3 million Americans
are living with Alzheimer's
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How to cope with agitation in your loved one who has Alzheimer’s
By William G. Hammond, J.D.
How to cope with agitation in your loved one who has Alzheimer’s
by: William G. Hammond, J.D.
Many times, understanding the meaning of a word can give us great insight into the issue at hand.
What is agitation? Extreme emotional disturbance. (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English
Language) A stirring up or arousing; disturbance of tranquility; disturbance of mind that shows itself by
physical excitement. (Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary). A mental state of extreme emotional
disturbance, the feeling of being agitated; not calm. (WorldNet 1.6).
Many Alzheimer’s patients experience agitation in addition to memory loss. In the early stages of the
illness, people with Alzheimer’s may encounter changes in their personality, such as irritability, anxiety
or even depression. But as the disease progresses, these symptoms can worsen and become more
difficult to live with. They may include sleep disturbances, delusions and hallucinations. Many times
Alzheimer's patients cannot get in touch with or express their feelings. So when they experience
agitation, it is often difficult for the caregivers to understand and to help.
When a person with dementia displays agitation or other “symptoms,” you must try to determine what
they are trying to communicate.
Good communication is an important part of any relationship. When caring for a person with dementia,
the ability to communicate becomes more and more difficult. Both expressing and processing
informat